Do horses have 3 or 4 different stomaches?

Horses do not have three or four stomachs. They have a single-chambered stomach which is actually quite small compared to their body size. However, they have a very large cecum and colon, which are important for digesting plant matter.

Here's a breakdown:

* Stomach: The horse's stomach is small, holding only about 2-3 gallons. It's mainly responsible for initial digestion of food.

* Small Intestine: This is where most of the nutrients from the food are absorbed.

* Cecum: This large pouch is where fermentation takes place. It's filled with bacteria that break down cellulose (plant fibers) into usable nutrients.

* Large Intestine (Colon): This is where most of the water is reabsorbed and waste is formed.

So while horses don't have multiple stomachs, they have a complex digestive system adapted for processing their diet of grasses and hay.